Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s embattled businesses frustrated as subsidies in third round of relief fail to meet expectations

Fitness centres, closed for nearly two months amid social-distancing restrictions, eligible for just HK$50,000, half of what offered in last round

Restaurants see even steeper drop in available aid, while complaining landlords are offering ‘no concessions’

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Hong Kong’s gyms, shuttered for nearly two months, have been offered just half of what they received in the first round of relief. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 6:52pm, 16 Sep 2020Updated: 11:31pm, 16 Sep 2020

Businesses forced to slash operations amid Hong Kong’s sweeping social-distancing measures are expressing deep frustration with the size of subsidies included in a new HK$24 billion (US$3.1 billion) relief package that left a few hard-hit sectors out entirely.

More than HK$3.5 billion of the government’s third round of Covid-19 relief has been earmarked for struggling industries, but cash injections for a number of sectors were less generous than hoped for, particularly for fitness centres, beauty salons, party rooms and restaurants hurt by restrictions during a third wave of infections that began in July.

Fitness centres, which were ordered closed for nearly two months, are eligible for a one-off subsidy of HK$50,000 (US$6,450), half the HK$100,000 offered during the second round of relief.

Tricia Yap, who helped set up the Hong Kong Alliance of Boutique Fitness Operators, said the latest round of subsidies had lowballed the needs of the stricken sector.

“We’re all quite disappointed,” said Yap, who also owns R3 Personal Training in Central. “HK$50,000 doesn’t even cover a month’s rent if you include management fees.”

Tricia Yap, owner of R3 Personal Training in Central, said she was far from alone in her disappointment with the HK$50,000 offered to Hong Kong gyms. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Angela Chan Sau-yee, chairman of the Federation of Beauty Industry’s executive committee, said even the one-off HK$30,000 to HK$100,000 subsidies offered to beauty salons in the previous round of aid had not been enough.